The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-08-25

iHeh he was nldQen In little unused
loft under the roof. and all was quiet.
Half mile away, sitting head in
hands, by the bedside of the mother to
whom he was SO devoted, was Dugal,
"That Coward" But though the body
OF his parent lay within his reach, her
spirit had fled not an hour before. The
poor woman had bravely borne up
against the ill-repute Of her son and the
neglect of her former friends, but hard
work and the quiet inward suffering of
wounded pride had worn her out at
last, and at the last only had she
seemed to fully understand how and
why her son had acted as he did, and
with her parting breath she blessed him
and told him time would make things
all right.
As the stalwart youth sat there,
wondering in his misery, to whom he
could apply for help, he heard. the
tramp of horses on the road. He heard
them halt. There was a shout.
''Hello there! House."
Motioning the old negro woman,
their only servant for years, to go out
and see what was required he resumed
his moody silence and posture.
How long the woman had gone he
did not note, but she returned erect,
| with the fire of wrath in her eyes.
'Ha! Massar Dug'I! Dat'er stuck up
Miss Jinnie'll sing fodder side'r mouf
| fore long Ireckons. Dem dars Yankees,
an deys goin' ter cotch dat reb All'n
vote come sulkin' back yer. Dey didn't
| jist know de road, but I dun tell dem
de way, shu!''
Then Dugal rose with his face white
with his rage; that woman had never
been nearer death than that moment.
"You murderessr' he Kissed and
sprang for her. But he restrained
himself as she covered before him.
''Let the dead bury the dead" he
muttered.
He gave her some directions as to
going for the one person on whom he
could depend. in case he did not return,
for paying the last service to that cold
clay that he left; then went and kissed
the lips of his dead mother and strobe
outinto the darkness.
Swift as dear, quiet as a panther,
he made his way to the Dean
house by paths that would be in
accessible to cavalry. If Allen
were there, his plans were already
made. The friend of his youth must
be in hiding, and Dugal knew the old
HOMESTEAD SO thoroughly that he was
! certain where to find him. He reached
the. back of the house just as the troop
drew up before it. Quickly he climbed
on the roof of the ''lean-to,' and
quietly he entered the little apartment.
A few rays of the moon showed him a
gaunt form stretched out upon hastily
made bed on the floor. He knelt down
and put his hand upon the figure. In
an instant the man rose up, tried to
grapple with him, then fell back with a
i groan. YT9 RrEs
"Allen, man! Allen, dear! It's me,
Dugal. Do nothing, say nothing. They
shall not takeyou."
There was a@noise at the door, the
llscream of an elder and the wild protest
ations of a younger woman were min
| gled with the gruff, firm voice of man.
"We'll search the house, miss, and if
he amt here there's no harm done, but
search it we must and will.''
Dugal was busy all this time, and as
Jennie with her frail body was trying
to bar the entrance of the officer and
his men, behind her appeared figure
in butternut, ragged attempt at uni
Don't harm my mother and sister,
will 60 with you," said the new arrival.
r Jennie gave one glance and sank
senseless upon the floor; the old mother
was long since blind and speeches.
4 from fright. esfH
Gladly the troops secured their pris-
oner and hurried away from such a
scene.
/ 1t was early morning when they
B reached the headquarters of the COM
mand. The Colonel was a man who
had suffered much; he believed in war
of retaliation. He neither asked nor
gave quarter.
The prisoner was brought before him.
! "Who are you?"
4 "Allen Dean"
] "What regimcnt?" -
Il tenth Alabama, ss
"What are you doing in our lines?'
s'On scout
"Shoot him at noon." was the quiet
but stern order given to the Lieuten-
ant, and the doomed man was marched
away.
II Noon came; there was not time fol-
much prayer or question, and the un-
fortunate had made no sign.
i The firing detailp had been made,
i troops were ranged about, the prisoner
was brought from the tent used as a
guard house, and placed before an open,
|, shallow grave. 80 Aa s.
l \ i